WI:McCain picks Lingle?

What if John McCain picks Hawaii governor Lisa Lingle instead of Alaska governor Sarah Palin for his running mate?
 
What if John McCain picks Hawaii governor Lisa Lingle instead of Alaska governor Sarah Palin for his running mate?

Same problem as with Lieberman and Ridge. She's pro-choice. If he picks her there's a revolt at the convention, the already unenthusiastic GOP base becomes even more so, and he loses the popular vote by 9 or 10 points instead of 6.
 
Linda Lingle.

The Battle of the Hawaiians, that would be. Similarities off the top of my head:
  • Another governor with that elusive "executive experience"
  • Another governor with a high approval rating
  • Another female
  • Another politician from a state that won't swing
  • Another politician from what The Simpsons call "the freak states" (AK and HI)
  • Another pro-lifer (or at least opposes PBA and supports parental consent for minors seeking abortions)
Differences off the top of my head:
  • An observant Jew rather than a Pentacostal Christian - no extra incentives for the Evangelical Right to support the ticket
  • Lingle has more experience: 6 years in office as governor to Palin's 1.5 years
  • A moderate Republican: she would appeal to independents (or at least not repel them as Palin did).
  • She would not necessarily fire up the base, but she would not repel the base, like some of McCain's pro-choice shortlist picks might have done.
  • A moderate rather than an ultra-conservative (although Lingle is, once again, pro-life).
Looking at this, Lingle may have been a better choice than Palin, Lieberman, Ridge, Jindal, or Romney. Huh. Should've asked you, Charles.
 
Linda Lingle.

The Battle of the Hawaiians, that would be. Similarities off the top of my head:
  • Another governor with that elusive "executive experience"
  • Another governor with a high approval rating
  • Another female
  • Another politician from a state that won't swing
  • Another politician from what The Simpsons call "the freak states" (AK and HI)
  • Another pro-lifer (or at least opposes PBA and supports parental consent for minors seeking abortions)
Differences off the top of my head:
  • An observant Jew rather than a Pentacostal Christian - no extra incentives for the Evangelical Right to support the ticket
  • Lingle has more experience: 6 years in office as governor to Palin's 1.5 years
  • A moderate Republican: she would appeal to independents (or at least not repel them as Palin did).
  • She would not necessarily fire up the base, but she would not repel the base, like some of McCain's pro-choice shortlist picks might have done.
  • A moderate rather than an ultra-conservative (although Lingle is, once again, pro-life).

Lingle is not pro-life. She describes herself as pro-choice, and is a member of pro-choice organizations like Wish List (PAC for pro-choice GOP women) and the Republican Majority For Choice.
 
Being a citizen of Hawaii, I don't think she'ld have made too much of a difference.
The only differnece i can think of is no Troopergate, less of a huge media spot light, and Obama may have less votes from Hawaii, although that's doubtful.
 
Of course if it would have been McCain-Lingle and that ticket lost. It might spell the end of the moderate GOP wing, or at least marginalize it more than it already has been.
 
Lingle is not pro-life. She describes herself as pro-choice, and is a member of pro-choice organizations like Wish List (PAC for pro-choice GOP women) and the Republican Majority For Choice.

I saw on a site that she opposes partial birth aboriton and wants parental permission for minors seeking abortions. Is that not considered prolife? I guess I misunderstood the term, if Lingle calls herself pro choice.

And no, I don't think she would have won McC the election. I think she'd've been a stronger pick, but not enough to override the general national dissatisfaction with Republican policies.

It might spell the end of the moderate GOP wing, or at least marginalize it more than it already has been.

Very true! The conservatives could say even more unequivocally that moderation lost the election.
 
I saw on a site that she opposes partial birth aboriton and wants parental permission for minors seeking abortions. Is that not considered prolife? I guess I misunderstood the term, if Lingle calls herself pro choice.

...No, in the States prolife means "any abortion, anywhere, anytime, anyway, is bad".
 
...No, in the States prolife means "any abortion, anywhere, anytime, anyway, is bad".

I'm from the States too :).

I just think of pro choice as "any abortion, anywhere, anytime, anyway, is permissable." Is there a term for Lingle's moderated stance?
 
I guess moderate. But on issues like abortion it seems the public is not centrist. I think the public opinion polling for it may be like a U with people on the two extremes and less in the center.
 
well, there's another difference, perhaps a less tangible one... and i mention it at the risk of being considered unfair / chauvanistic / an oversimplifier.

but lingle is not as attractive as palin. now i don't think palin is as hot as people make her out to be. (hell, i live in new york city; i walk down any block in town and pass at least 18 women more attractive :)). but the consensus seems to be that she's `hot for politics'.

lingle, on the other hand...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Lingle

... not so much. at least, i believe, in the eyes of the average american joe sixpack. and say what you will about palin's hunting, supposed championing of fiscally conservative values at the state level, folksy ways, etc... on a very real level, she energized the base in the way she did because a large segment of the base wanted her. lingle just wouldn't have the same result.

i am not in any way saying this should make a difference... but i think it does, at least on a national level. we are sure allowed to have less-than-attractive male presidential and vp candidates (kerry and dole pop to mind), but i think it's safe to say the same standard does not apply to our female candidates. just kind of human nature.

also... there was a whisper campaign going that lingle was a lesbian. she's twice divorced with no kids. gay rumors, however false, and the absence of a `family values' type nuclear family... yeah, the gop don't exactly get excited about that.

i think you're exactly right - mccain/lingle still loses, and by more, and pundits are talking about how it's the end of the moderates. the republicans have 4 years to recharge, then enter the most conservative evangelical guy they can find.
 
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